VGP – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte affirmed that his country attaches importance to strengthening the all-round relations and expects to further deepen the strategic partnership with Viet Nam.

State President Tran Dai Quang shakes hands with Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Presidential Palace, Ha Noi on September 29, 2016. Photo: VGP

President Duterte aired the sentiment during his talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang in Ha Noi on September 29.

The two Presidents expressed their pleasure at the strong development and efficacy of the friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations over the past four decades, including the regular exchange of high-level delegations and maintenance of cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

They also noted with pleasure that maritime cooperation has been fostered, bringing practical benefits to both sides while cooperation in security, defense, culture, and people-to-people exchanges has been expanded.

The two-way trade volume reached nearly US$3 billion last year and many Philippine investors have been present in Viet Nam.

The two sides agreed to continue strengthening political and diplomatic ties through the exchange of visits and contacts at all levels and accelerating relations on Party, Government, State, National Assembly and people channels.

Both sides agreed to improve the effectiveness of their bilateral cooperation mechanisms like the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Cooperation, the Joint Commission on Trade, the Defense Policy Dialogue

, and continue collaboration in organizing activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2016.

State President Quang welcomed Philippine businesses’ investment in such domains like agriculture, food processing and tourism and asked the Philippine side to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese investors to join infrastructure, oil and gas, service projects in the Philippines.

State President Quang affirmed that Viet Nam will be a stable and long-term rice provider to the Philippines.

The two Presidents believed that security and defense cooperation is one of the major pillars of the Viet Nam-Philippines strategic partnership, thus they vowed to continue promoting the effectiveness of related cooperation mechanisms, including the defense policy dialogue at the vice ministerial level. Both sides agreed to further beef up cooperation in training, research, and experience sharing.

Regarding regional and international issues of common concern, the two Presidents affirmed their support for hosting ASEAN Chairmanship Year and APEC Year in 2017 by the Philippines and Viet Nam, respectively.

The two nations pledged to continue coordination and efforts together with other ASEAN member countries to successfully implement the ASEAN Community, uphold ASEAN solidarity and promote the central role of the bloc in the regional architecture.

For the East Sea issue, the two sides committed to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation as well as unimpeded trade flows in the region, especially in the East Sea.

They called on parties to exercise self-restraint, not use or threaten to use force; fully respect diplomatic and legal processes; settle disputes through peaceful means on the basis of the key principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both sides also reaffirmed their support for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and for cooperation in quick conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

President Duterte took the occasion to invite State President Quang to pay an official visit to the Philippines at convenient time.

During his two-day visit to Viet Nam, President Duterte is also expected to meet with Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vietnamese business delegation./.